Help!!! I've spent hours trying to recover my Google account and apparently have, but fail on inputting my old password.

[elocs]

I have a new password, but along with a new Google logon I need to input my old password and not remembering, or failing to input the old password that I had written down, I keep getting the red notice that it is the wrong old password. Under the "can't remember old password" I do not want to delete my local data.
Google has 3 methods of verifying that it is my account so why are none of them good enough?
If I could remember my old password I wouldn't be in this fix.
TIA

[Tetrachloride]

1. Google is helpful only if you help yourself. They don't help otherwise.

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7682439?hl=en&sjid=10632061968162423587-NC

What model computer do you use ? Do you have an older computer ?

What do use use to access your Google account ?

Have your ever purchased anything at Google ?

[elocs]

5. I have a 3 year old Lenovo Chromebook, use it for web surfing, online ordering, email.

I had just changed my password (nothing complex or long) and had written it down so I was confident I had it when I restarted my computer and was given the notice it was the wrong password, tried different variations (lowercase, upper case letters), still wrong.
Finally I was able to create a new password and recover my Google account. Then to get on again I was also asked for my old password which the reason I needed a new one is because I had the old one wrong.
This should not, not, not be this hard. I have 3 methods for Google to verify that it is my account, so why are they not good enough?

[Basic LA]

2. This is my concern.

I'm getting occasional prompts to log into Google, but I don't remember ever having to do this. And as with all things tech, I'm sure chaos will ensue.

[Tetrachloride]

4. Ultimately, I don't use Gmail for serious stuff or even moderately serious.

They have people and can get more. They just don't want to pay more salary.

[elocs]

6. Gmail works with the new PW, it's my Google account that I cannot get on.

And I don't want to end up deleting my local data when it says that I have successfully recovered my account.

[Tetrachloride]

7. This is definitely odd.

[TwilightZone]

8. Some stored logins now expire after a certain amount of time.

More organizations are moving to expiring local credentials so even if you saved them, you'll have to reenter them periodically. Many are 30 days.

[walkingman]

3. It can be very frustrating.....

Have you tried the methods listed at these website?

https://gmailaccountrecovery.blogspot.com/

https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery

[Hope22]

9. Also, when you do get it up and running...

I have found using the two step verification helpful when password issues arise. By adding the cell phone number it will text the phone with a code to enter on the computer. That system has saved me more than once. Hope you are up and running soon! 😊

[elocs]

10. Success! But I'm not sure exactly how. I needed my old password to confirm my new one

I tried a number of them with variations having the same last 4 characters. None worked. So for the hell of it I tried the one just previous to what I thought was the last and it was correct.
It did take a good number of frustrating hours that I had to simply let go of for a few days, using the Chomebook's guest mode.
But thanks to all who offered help.